Little Black Box

After the problems that Toyota drivers experienced at the start of 2010, the US government are proposing a new idea to install black boxes into all new cars and lorries, to record crash information. This move is very similar to that of the world’s aeroplanes, which contain a black box for the same reason.

The proposal also suggests that the car manufacturers would help fund the governments motor industry safety agency, to further prevent accidents and govern the safety of the roads.

Over eight million vehicles were recalled worldwide this year after the manufacturing issue with Toyota, and the company were forced to pay eleven million for responding too slowly to the problem in hand.

This plan would then remove the cap on civil penalties for manufacturers, possibly resulting in record pay outs for faults in vehicles.

The Energy and Commerce Chairman has also stated in the proposal, that new safety standards be implemented on brake override systems and help see the end to pedals getting stuck under car mats,

Toyota have agreed with this idea, and have said that, should this come into legality, they will implement them in any future Toyota models, as well as retroactively install them in some models that are already on the roads.

Vehicles would be required to install these black boxes to help police to be fully aware of what happened in the case of a crash.

Before this is able to be implemented, the idea will have to be fully researched by safety groups, who opposition feel are under equipt to deal with this sort of responsibility.

Car Insurance companies however, will relish the idea, as it will no doubt remove the grey areas in accident knowledge.